What is Christmas Island famous for?

What is Christmas Island famous for?

This tiny dog-shaped island was named on Christmas Day, 1643 by an English sea captain. Today it's a lush, off-the-beaten-path tourist destination famed for its caves and coral reefs. The biggest yearly attraction is the migration of fifty million red crabs down to the sea to spawn.

Do people live on Christmas Island?

Christmas Island had a population of 1,843 residents as of 2016, the majority living in settlements on the northern tip of the island. The main settlement is Flying Fish Cove. Historically, Asian Australians of Chinese, Malay, and Indian descent formed the majority of the population.

Is there a real place called Christmas Island?

Christmas Island, officially Territory of Christmas Island, island in the Indian Ocean, about 224 miles (360 km) south of the island of Java and 870 miles (1,400 km) northwest of Australia, that is administered as an external territory of Australia.

Who owns Xmas island?

Australia and New Zealand buy the Christmas Island Phosphate company and Christmas Island is administered by the Colony of Singapore. Sovereignty is transferred by the United Kingdom to Australia and Christmas Island becomes an Australian Territory.

Can you swim on Christmas Island?

The sea cliffs and inland cliffs on Christmas Island can be steep and very treacherous. ... Swimming at beaches is only recommended at Flying Fish Cove under calm sea conditions.

Does Christmas Island have beaches?

Christmas Island's beaches are simply breathtaking, with white sands flanked by rugged cliffs and forest-covered hinterland. Many beaches offer excellent snorkelling, and you can often see turtles and red crabs during the breeding season.

Can you eat the crabs on Christmas Island?

Christmas Island Red Crab in Fishing and Cooking Despite its great numbers, Christmas Island red crabs are not considered edible, at least not edible to humans.

Why is Christmas Island called so?

Christmas Island began appearing on the charts of English and Dutch navigators from the early 1600s. But it wasn't until 1643 that Captain William Mynors of the British East India Company named the island after sighting it on Christmas Day.

Where is the Kiribati island?

central Pacific Ocean Kiribati is an island country in the central Pacific Ocean, made up of 33 islands. Only 20 of these are inhabited. Although the land area is small, the islands are scattered widely. Most of the islands are very low-lying atolls (ring-shaped coral reefs).

What is Christmas Island famous for?

• Christmas Island, a rocky speck in the Indian Ocean 2600 kilometres (1616 miles) north-west of Perth, is not your typical tropical island paradise. Nicknamed the " Galapagos of the Indian Ocean", the island is famous for its red crabs, sea birds, whale sharks and spectacular coral reefs. Almost two-thirds of the island is national park.

What are facts about Christmas Island?

• Take a look at these 23 interesting facts about Christmas Island! Geographical stats.... Christmas Island is a small Australian territory in the Indian Ocean. ... Social intricacies. The official language of Christmas Island is English. ... Industry insights.... Christmas Island doesn't currently grow anything on a commercial scale, although they are working towards growing fruit and vegetables as a future goal.

Why is Christmas Island shaped like a dog?

• This Christmas Island is best in November. The two most obvious December discoveries on the globe have the same name: Christmas Island. Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, just south of Java, is an Australian territory. This tiny dog-shaped island was named on Christmas Day, 1643 by an English sea captain.

Where did Christmas Island get its name?

• Kiritimati, or Christmas Island, is a Pacific Ocean raised coral atoll in the northern Line Islands. It is part of the Republic of Kiribati. The name "Kiritimati" is a respelling of the English word "Christmas" in the Kiribati language, in which the combination ti is pronounced s, and the name is thus pronounced /kəˈrɪsməs/.